Glove in plastic or elastic material which may be worn on either hand

ABSTRACT

Glove of synthetic resin or elastic material such as rubber, which may be worn on either hand without discomfort, including, in the area of the thumb, with extensions on the palm side and on the back side, a series of wide longitudinal undulations forming gussets oriented substantially along a direction intermediate between the longitudinal direction of the thumb and the direction of the longitudinal axis of the glove. The glove is optionally provided with an additional series of undulations in the area of the little finger substantially symmetric to the series in the area of the thumb, with respect to the longitudinal axis.

ited States Patent GLOVE IN PLASTIC OR ELASTIC MATERIAL WHICH MAY BE WORN ON EITHER HAND 1 1 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figs.

ILS. Cl 2/167 Int. Cl Adld 19/00 Field oil Search 11159-161,

References Cited Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin Atrorney- Craig, Antonelli and Hill ABSTRACT: Glov'e of synthetic resin or elastic material such as rubber, which may be worn on either hand without discomfort, including, in the area of the thumb, with extensions on the palm side and on the back side, a series of wide longitudinal undulations forming gussets oriented substantially along a direction intermediate between the longitudinal direction of the thumb and the direction of the longitudinal axis of the glove. The glove is optionally provided with an additional series of undulations ,in the area of the little finger substantially symmetric to the series in the area of the thumb, with respect to the longitudinal axis.

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SHEET 2 OF 3 axe longilHllllHH INVENTORS JEA Tum/er 5 All/3K6 V/$R ATTORNEY5 GLOVE IN PLASTICOR ELASTIC MATERIAL WHICH- MAY BE WORN N EITHER HAND This application is a continuation of application serial no. 684,779 filed Nov. 2 l, 1967 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to gloves in plastic or elastic materials such as elastomer, natural or synthetic rubber, and which may be worn either on the left or the right hand, without discomfort for the wearer.

There already exist gloves which may be worn on both hands and which have a flat shape, wherein the thumb is in line with the plane of the four fingers, so that the same arrangement is kept when the faces of the gloves are inverted.

Such gloves cause discomfort and fatigue to the wearer, as taking hold of any object is then accompanied by a bulge of the internal side of the glove palm side and a-s'tretching of the external side covering the back of the hand.

Furthermore, the grip of objects in a hand thus gloved cannot be sure on account of the bulging of the internal face when the hand closes on the object to be seized, as this bulging causes the glove to pucker, which considerably reduces the gripping surface.

This invention has for object to avoid these drawbacks by providing a glove which can be worn without any discomfort either on the left or the right hand and which provides for a good grip in each case without abnormal fatigue for the wearer.

According to the invention this object is attained by a glove essentially characterized in that it exhibits on both sides and optionally on its edge, several gussets formed of undulations protruding with respect to the external surface of the glove or of undulations forming alternative grooves and protrusions.

These grooves and protrusions can have a geometrical shape, for example, semicircular, triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, partly elliptical in section, etc. According to a first embodiment of the gloves of the invention, they exhibit, essentially on the side of the thumb and optionally also on the side of the little finger, one or more wide undulations.

These undulations, which make it possible in particular to give to the thumb an equal freedom of movement whatever be the hand on which the glove is drawn, are given an essentially longitudinal direction.

They may however have a certain inclination, for example so as to more or less follow the external contour of the thumb and then to open fanwise towards the inside of the thumb or, on the contrary, to tend towards the inside, to become parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glove. They can regularly affect the wall of the glove or, on the contrary, only affect certain parts of it, especially in the region of the thumb, optionally forming thereon an extra thickness.

According to one of the embodiments of this type of glove, these longitudinal undulations also extend on the sides of the glove at least in the parts thereof adjacent to the lateral edge of the thumb. According to another embodiment, these longitudinal undulations are extended in the gauntlet of the glove.

In every case it will be advantageous, when manufacturing the gloves according to the invention, to give respective thicknesses to the different parts of the glove, so as to balance the masses of these different parts with respect to the longitudinal axis of the glove passing through the middle finger, this provision giving the user more easiness when drawing on the glove and for the purpose of wearing it equally well on either hand, thus rendering it as comfortable as any conventional glove. This method of balancing is particularly desirable when the glove only comprises undulations on the thumb side alone, especially in the form of extra thicknesses.

One can however, especially in the case of undulations tending, as they approach the longitudinal axis of the glove passing through the middle finger, to become parallel to said axis, provide for substantially symmetrical undulations at the side of the little finger, which makes it easier to balance the mass of the glove about its longitudinal axis.

The embodiment which comprises the extension of the undulations on the gauntlet of the glove offers the additional advantage of improving the aeration of the hand and making it easier to draw on the glove by facilitating the air exhaust to the outside through the channels formed inside the glove between these undulations.

Moreover, these longitudinal undulations strengthen the mechanical resistance of the glove and, through the channels formed externally between them, allow the preferential flow of a liquid which is being handled towards the end of the gauntlet preferably provided with an ending part adapted to be turned down and forming a gutter, thus preventing the wrist and arm from being in contact with said liquid.

Finally, according to an embodiment of this type, the glove is provided, on both sides of the hand (the palm and the back of the hand) and the fingers, with ribs or ridges in the form of flattened sinusoidal waves along a first direction of the glove going from the middle finger to the wrist, these sinusoidal waves being advantageously so disposed in relation to each other as to form in a second direction perpendicular to the first, a zigzag design, i.e. a regular broken line formed of a succession of Vs each of which is reversed with respect to the previous one, these zigzag motifs resulting from a longitudinal staggering of the adjacent sinusoids with respect to each other.

These ribs or ridges have the advantage of forming a skidproof surface in every direction since it is skidproof in the two directions perpendicular to each other and any oblique force is equivalent to a composition of forces in these two directionsiThe result is that, whatever the force tending to make it escape from the grip of the glove, the high friction coefficient due to the skidproof surface ensures an excellent and firm grasp. Moreover, on the side opposite the palm, the stretchingof the surface will affect the interval between the ribs or ridges more than it will affect the ribs or ridges themselves.

Finally, according to a preferred embodiment of glove, the gauntlet is terminated by longitudinal ridges which improve the extensibility of the end of the gauntlet and consequently facilitate the passage of the hand while at the same time allowing the subsequent tightening of the gauntlet on the forearm.

According to another embodiment, protruding undulations forming gussets are provided for on both sides of the glove, one of the gussets being parallel to the line of the metacarpal joints and another gusset joining the hollow of the thumb at that part of the glove corresponding to the end of the thenar prominence of the hand, these gussets giving the width necessary for respectively closing the fingers towards the palm and moving the thumb, while at the same time acting on the palm side as a slipproof surface resulting in a firmer grasp.

The invention will be described hereafter more in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a front view of one of the sides of a glove according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1A represents a cross section'according to XX of the glove of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 represents a side view of the little finger side of the glove of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 represents an elevation view of the side of the glove opposite to that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the slip or skidproof ribs or ridges advantageously provided on both sides of the glove and the fingers (with the exception of the gauntlet).

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the glove according to the invention, chiefly characterized by a symmetrical distribution of the masses of individual parts thereof with respect to its longitudinal axis.

FIG. 5A represents another embodiment of the glove according to which the undulations are arranged only on the side of the thumb and are in the form of widening pleats or tucks spreading out fanwise from the inside towards the outside of the thumb.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate both sides, the edge and the cross section of a type of glove according to the invention provided with a transversal gusset at the level of the metacarpal joints and with a gusset which is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the glove, ending at the hollow of the thumb.

As shown by FIGS. 1 and 1A, the surface of the glove comprises wide longitudinal undulations to 0 forming gussets on the two edges of the glove (undulations 0 and 0 on the edge at the side of the little finger, shown in FIG. 2) and on the adjacent parts on the two sides (undulations 0 0 0, and 0 for the side of the little finger). These undulations of the glove wall itself do not correspond to any difference in thickness of this wall as compared to that of the parts of the glove not undulated and are very different from the strengthening ridges which form an extra thickness of the wall of certain gloves of known type.

On the contrary, as these undulations of the wall have their two sides parallel, they form a kind of gusset on each edge of the glove which enlarges the room available for the fingers and especially for the thumb whatever he the hand on which the glove is worn. Of course, this type of gusset is much more useful on the thumb side than on the little finger side because the thumb moves in opposition to the other fingers in order to ensure a good grip.

It is therefore unnecessary to provide the little finger side with longitudinal undulations and, if this is done, their number can without any noticeable inconvenience, be less than the number of undulations provided on the thumb side.

As already mentioned, these undulations in gusset form, independently of the ease they give to the thumb movements, offer the advantage of facilitating air removal from inside the glove towards the outside when the glove is drawn on to the hand.

In order to enhance this effect one can, if desired, also provide the gauntlet of the glove with such undulations within the space between the extensions on the gauntlet of the longitudinal lateral undulations such as 0 to 0 (by longitudinal undulations is here meant the undulations extending substan tially along a direction going from the end of the fingers to the wrist and beyond, as shown in FIG.

0n the other hand, according to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the gauntlet is terminated by a ring-shaped part A, provided with fine ridges, ribbing or longitudinal undulations, and which can be easily turned back towards the outside so as to form a kind of terminal gutter which protects the forearm from any infiltration of liquid by trickling along the glove.

Finally, the motifs formed of ridges or ribbing such as those shown by way of example in FIG. 4, can advantageously be provided on the portions of the glove intended to ensure the hold, i.e. both sides of the fingers and of the hand since the glove sides are changed when it is drawn on the other hand.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the undulations provided at the little finger side are substantially the same as those provided on the thumb side, so that the glove is symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis. Such an arrangement avoids the more or less unbalanced aspect of the type ofgloves shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Finally, according to the method illustrated in FIG. 5A, only the undulations forming roomy folds or pleats, P P P and P are provided for on the thumb side, on both sides of the glove, each of these undulations becoming narrower towards the top of the thumb until they disappear completely, and spreading out fanwise from the inside to the outside of the thumb with a larger extension.

FIGS. 6 and 8 show the two sides of a glove 1 in natural or synthetic rubber or in any other elastic material showing two sides 2 and 3 substantially identical; this glove comprises four fingers 4, 5. 6 and 7. one thumb 8, and one gauntlet 9. a first gusset 10 comprising, in the illustrated embodiment, three undulations so directed as to correspond to the inclination of the line formed by the joints of the phalanges to the metacarpus. Likewise a second gusset 11 on each of the sides 1 and 2, has been provided, starting from hollow 12 of the thumb in a slightly oblique direction towards the part corresponding to the beginning 13 of the thenar eminence of the hand. The undulations of these gussets 11 are arranged in a bundle, and eventually extended by undulations or gussets 14 as far as the end ofthe gauntlet 9, as shown on FIGS. 6 and 8.

When the glove 1 is drawn on the hand in the position of FIGS. 6 or 8 according to the hand to be gloved, the gussets 14 expand, widening the gauntlet and facilitating the passage of the hand. When the fingers of the hand are inserted in the finger stalls of the glove, the elastic material stretches on the back of the hand, the gussets 10 expand, as well as the gussets 11 on the thenar eminence and back of the hand.

When the fingers are bent, the undulations of the gusset l0 expand on the back of the hand, while the undulations of gusset 10, placed towards the palm approach each other. For the back of the glove, one realizes that there is no abnormal stretching of the elastic material, said stretching being substantially the same as for the conventional gloves currently sold in the trade for which the left and right hands show a marked difference.

Whatever may be the type of design used for making the gloves according to the invention, these gloves have, for the user, not only the well known advantage that there is no need to worry about which hand is put into the glove, but also the still more appreciable advantage of being able to replace only one glove ofa pair when the glove is damaged or out of use, instead of having to discard the remaining glove and replace the pair.

It must be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereabove described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that many other embodiments can be imagined without departing from the scope of the invention, which is essentially characterized by the provision, on the edge of the glove at the thumb side and in the adjacent areas of the two sides of the glove, of a few gusset-forming longitudinal undulations.

We claim:

1. A glove, made of a flexible material and adapted to be worn on either hand, comprising a glove body having a plurality of finger stalls and a thumb stall associated with the glove body, where the glove body has a series of adjacent wide undulations provided thereon at least in part on the thumb stall, each undulation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the thumb stall, thereby forming gussets over at least a portion thereof to allow the thumb an equal freedom of movement on whichever hand the glove is drawn.

2. A glove according to claim 1, wherein said series of undulations is formed at least in the portion of the thumb stall including the outer lateral edge thereof and in those portions of the front and back ofthe thumb stall adjacent thereto.

3. A glove according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of each of the individual undulations extending along said thumb stall decreases gradually from the base of the thumb stall in the direction of the tip thereof and said series of undulations spreads fanwise, the width of each successive adjacent undulation being greater in the direction around the thumb stall from the portion thereof corresponding to the inside of the thumb to the portion thereof corresponding to the outside of the thumb.

4. A glove according to claim 1, further including a second continuous series of adjacent, gusset-forming undulations, said second series extending close to and in the longitudinal direction of the little finger stall, said second series of undulations and said first-mentioned series of undulations together forming an arrangement substantially symmetric about said longitudinal axis of said glove body.

5. A glove according to claim 4, wherein said second series of undulations is formed at least in the portion of said little finger stall including the outer lateral edge thereof and in those portions of the front and back of the little finger stall adjacent thereto.

6. A glove according to claim 1, wherein said series of undulations extend longitudinally, on both sides of the glove body,

from a portion thereof corresponding to the hollow of the thumb to a portion thereof corresponding to the beginning of the thenar eminence.

7. A glove according to claim 6, further comprising a series of additional gusset-forming undulations extending substantially transversely to said longitudinal axis of said glove body on both sides of said glove body at a level corresponding to the finger-joints on the metacarpus.

8. A glove according to claim 1, wherein both sides of said glove body are provided with ridges, in the form of flattened sinusoids extending in a common first direction and offset from one another so as to form, in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, a pattern of ridges providing a skid-proof surface.

9. Glove of flexible material which may be worn with substantially no undue tensioning on either hand, including at least one wide undulation forming a gusset in the area of the thumb stall, each undulation becoming narrower from the base to the top of the thumb stall, and wherein at least one undulation spreads fanwise with gradual widening of the base of the at least one undulation along the direction going from the inside to the outside of the thumb stall.

10. A glove, made of a flexible material and adapted to be worn on either hand, comprising a glove body having four finger stalls and a thumb stall, wherein the glove body is provided with a series of adjacent wide undulations extending substantially in directions having inclinations with respect to the longitudinal axis of the glove, said inclinations gradually increasing on one side of the glove body from a minimum value to a maximum value corresponding to the inclination of the undulations at the outer lateral edge portion of the thumb stall and decreasing on the other side of the glove body from the maximum value to a lesser value, thereby forming gussets over at least a portion of the thumb stall.

11. A glove according to claim 1, wherein the undulations are of varying width in the longitudinal direction of the thumb stall. 

1. A glove, made of a flexible material and adapted to be worn on either hand, comprising a glove body having a plurality of finger stalls and a thumb stall associated with the glove body, where the glove body has a series oF adjacent wide undulations provided thereon at least in part on the thumb stall, each undulation extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the thumb stall, thereby forming gussets over at least a portion thereof to allow the thumb an equal freedom of movement on whichever hand the glove is drawn.
 2. A glove according to claim 1, wherein said series of undulations is formed at least in the portion of the thumb stall including the outer lateral edge thereof and in those portions of the front and back of the thumb stall adjacent thereto.
 3. A glove according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of each of the individual undulations extending along said thumb stall decreases gradually from the base of the thumb stall in the direction of the tip thereof and said series of undulations spreads fanwise, the width of each successive adjacent undulation being greater in the direction around the thumb stall from the portion thereof corresponding to the inside of the thumb to the portion thereof corresponding to the outside of the thumb.
 5. A glove according to claim 1, further including a second continuous series of adjacent, gusset-forming undulations, said second series extending close to and in the longitudinal direction of the little finger stall, said second series of undulations and said first-mentioned series of undulations together forming an arrangement substantially symmetric about said longitudinal axis of said glove body.
 5. A glove according to claim 4, wherein said second series of undulations is formed at least in the portion of said little finger stall including the outer lateral edge thereof and in those portions of the front and back of the little finger stall adjacent thereto.
 6. A glove according to claim 1, wherein said series of undulations extend longitudinally, on both sides of the glove body, from a portion thereof corresponding to the hollow of the thumb to a portion thereof corresponding to the beginning of the thenar eminence.
 7. A glove according to claim 6, further comprising a series of additional gusset-forming undulations extending substantially transversely to said longitudinal axis of said glove body on both sides of said glove body at a level corresponding to the finger-joints on the metacarpus.
 8. A glove according to claim 1, wherein both sides of said glove body are provided with ridges, in the form of flattened sinusoids extending in a common first direction and offset from one another so as to form, in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, a pattern of ridges providing a skid-proof surface.
 9. Glove of flexible material which may be worn with substantially no undue tensioning on either hand, including at least one wide undulation forming a gusset in the area of the thumb stall, each undulation becoming narrower from the base to the top of the thumb stall, and wherein at least one undulation spreads fanwise with gradual widening of the base of the at least one undulation along the direction going from the inside to the outside of the thumb stall.
 10. A glove, made of a flexible material and adapted to be worn on either hand, comprising a glove body having four finger stalls and a thumb stall, wherein the glove body is provided with a series of adjacent wide undulations extending substantially in directions having inclinations with respect to the longitudinal axis of the glove, said inclinations gradually increasing on one side of the glove body from a minimum value to a maximum value corresponding to the inclination of the undulations at the outer lateral edge portion of the thumb stall and decreasing on the other side of the glove body from the maximum value to a lesser value, thereby forming gussets over at least a portion of the thumb stall.
 11. A glove according to claim 1, wherein the undulations are of varying width in the longitudinal direction of the thumb stall. 